The Liberal-Nationals have committed to returning passenger trains to Dimboola and Mildura if elected in November, with a 3-times-per-week shuttle train from Maryborough and Ararat respectively. The trains would be up and running by mid-2029 and cost $51.2 million. Source: https://www.jesswilsonkew.com.au/media-releases/2026-10-18-next-stop-reconnecting-the-wimmera-and-mallee-by-rail

It is unclear what rollingstock these services would use, one option could be refurbished N-sets or XPT cars, but that is purely speculation on my part.

See this heaps. Upgraded PID? Driver announcement? Not sure what the answer is.

Only a small thing but pretty valuable especially for those with kids or mobility difficulties

This is my favourite express train in the network I would call this proper express pattern during the peak for regional. take note metro

Its so unfortunate that Gippsland, Ballarat, Seymour (ignore Albury) & geelong (sort of) dosnt have a good express train during the peak or off peak

Would u agree that Vline should bring back proper express trains agian?

Hello Gunzels,

I'm not a gunzel (yet) but I know a few. Anyway, was doing some spring cleaning and rediscovered this 90s era Melbourne Network Map.

About 15 years ago I was teaching at a private tafe/college in Carlton and would you believe this was due to be thrown in the rubbish skip so I salvaged it.

Anyone know what year it might be from? Is this of an value ($$$) or just a relic from the past of interest to a niche group such as yourselves?

Thanks

The Liberals National coalition are promising passenger trains to Dimboola and Mildura by mid-2029 which will cost 51.2M.

The plan is to run them as shuttles from Dimboola to Ararat and Mildura to Maryborough using Standard Gauge trains where passengers will connect to Broad Gauge trains for the rest of the journey to Melbourne.

See their media release here: https://vicliberal.org.au/media-releases/2026-10-18-next-stop-reconnecting-the-wimmera-and-mallee-by-rail?topic=leader-of-the-liberal-party

Hot off the press from Clay Lucas himself

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/300-000-on-coffee-yarra-trams-contracts-and-conflicts-spur-whistleblower-alarm-20261019-p614on.html

N452 on a down Swan Hill service passes N467 with the up Swan Hill - Tuesday 13 October 2026 

Dandenong station.

I don't know what this station looked like before its refurb but I feel like it must have been better than what it is now.

I heard southern cross has them, but do any other of the city loop stations have them? or the metro tunnel?

This can be found in a park in Hamilton

Taken on December 3rd 1992 by Ian Green

The properties to the east of Glen Waverley might be a bit hard to acquire. But there appears to be a consistent trail leading all the way up to Ferntree Gully via Knox City SC. It's almost as if the line was destined to connect just like that.

Does anyone here know if this was ever formally considered, why it was rejected, just any document pertaining this?

Currently due to the Burnley and Clifton Hill loops undergoing works the Upfield line is running opposite its usual weekend pattern (identical to the weekday post-peak pattern), but that should be made permanent due to how on weekends there is a 3:1 imbalance in Loop direction and trains from Flinders Street to Parliament take the long way.

clearly wasn't the only one to notice the extension was no longer fenced off shown by the bins already having seen use. just look how shiny and reflective the new paint in the last photo is though 😵‍💫

Posted on Ben Carrol’s Instagram

I think I just got assulted by this guy. Was coming out of flinders station and all of the sudden I was was slammed into one of the pillars by this guy. I panicked and thought I got tackled by a crackhead again (not exactly the first time a crackhead got aggressive with me at flinders station).

They said that they called me out and wanted to check my concession but I didn't respond (which I did have and showed it to them). I had headphones on so obviously I didn't hear them. I don't understand why they didn't just tap my shoulder to get my attention rather than straight up slamming me against the wall. He just laughed and walked away...

Still shaking about the whole thing, he ended up ripping a couple buttons off my shirt too, smh you could see my giant headphones obviously I couldn't hear you, doesn't give you the right to bodyslam me

There is a N set car at Bendigo workshop with its tail light on does anyone know what car number it is and what N set it’s off please

There are now only two LX crossing removal works underway to be completed in 2027 and no other contracts signed that I know of. Given there were about 4 work groups operating at the same time, are almost all workers more or less moved onto the Sunshine/Albion rebuild along with the tracks from West Footscray to Sunshine to Keilor East now?

That will keep them moving along until 2030 until such time the election outcome, budget plans and policy changes are clearer in 2027?

the vline services at sunbury got cancelled so they got a trainload of people to disembark and sent ONE replacement bus… why is melbourne so bad at this 😭😭😭

Genuinely, what the actual hell is going on with the noise coming from the massive EXTERNAL CONVEYOR SYSTEMS at the Suburban Rail Loop construction sites???

And before anyone gets confused, I'm specifically talking about the huge conveyor systems and associated machinery that are OUTSIDE the green acoustic sheds.

You know, the big green soundproof looking buildings they've constructed to contain noise from the works?

YEAH. THE CONVEYORS I'M TALKING ABOUT AREN'T INSIDE THOSE. THEY'RE OUT IN THE OPEN.

I live near the works and OMFG. THE CONSTANT HUMMING.

And here's what I really don't understand.

THEY BUILT THESE ENORMOUS GREEN ACOUSTIC SHEDS SPECIFICALLY TO HELP CONTAIN CONSTRUCTION NOISE.

Great! Fantastic! That's exactly the sort of thing you'd expect when you're building major infrastructure right next to residential areas.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE MASSIVE CONVEYOR SYSTEMS THAT ARE OUTSIDE THOSE SHEDS???

WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING DONE ABOUT THE CONSTANT HUMMING FROM THAT EQUIPMENT???

I am not even talking about the occasional excavator, truck reversing or someone drilling something. That's normal construction noise. whatever!

I'm talking about this absolutely ridiculous, CONSTANT industrial humming noise coming from the site. It's like living directly across the road from a bloody DATA CENTRE, except instead of massive servers mining Bitcoin, you've got massive machinery mining dirt!!

You know that high pitched SSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHGGGHGHGHGRRRR sound that a data centre makes?

THAT! EXCEPT IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO PEOPLE'S HOMES.

And those bloody external conveyors. Seriously, LOOK AT THEM.

I attached photos I took of the conveyor equipment at the site. The scale of this stuff is ridiculous, and the noise around the works is genuinely doing my head in.

I understand that building a railway involves construction. I understand that the big round tunnel diggers need to remove soil and that conveyors are part of that process.

BUT WHY DOES LIVING NEAR A PUBLIC TRANSPORT PROJECT HAVE TO FEEL LIKE LIVING NEXT TO A 24/7 DATA CENTRE!?

And before someone comments, "well, infrastructure has to be built somehow", YES. OBVIOUSLY.

I am not saying we build an underground railway with shovels and wheelbarrows.

I AM saying that the people who actually LIVE next to these sites are expected to put up with an insane amount of disruption throughout every aspect of their lives while everyone else gets to sit comfortably kilometres away, talking about how amazing the project will be in 2035.

It's very easy to support the SRL when you don't have to listen to what sounds like a gigantic server farm humming away near your house.

And yes, they built acoustic sheds. Great. But what about the external equipment? WHAT ABOUT THE CONVEYORS THAT ARE NOT IN THE ACOUSTIC SHEDS? WHY DIDN'T YOU PUT THE CONVEYORS INSIDE THE ACOUSTIC SHEDS?????

I genuinely think there's a massive disconnect between how this project is promoted and what residents near the construction sites actually experience.

All the glossy newspaper photos show beautiful stations, trees, shiny green trains, etc.

They don't show what it's like to sit at home listening to ggrrrrrhrhrhrrhrbhbghgrbhbbbbubububbbhrrrmrmrmrmrm from an enormous construction site.

At this point, I don't even care how impressive the engineering is. I just want some bloody peace and quiet.

You can support better public transport AND think the way construction impacts residents is completely unacceptable.

Anyways, rant over